New York PSAL: Five teams poised for a big 2020-2021 season

Submitted to Prep Hoops by Emmanuel Abayev While the Coronavirus has put a premature end to this year’s PSAL playoffs, it’s never too early to take a look at who will make a run at the 2021 championship. Erasmus Hall Campus 2019-2020 Regular season record: 14-4 Under head coach Richard Anderson, Erasmus Hall ran a superb 14-4 regular season, before entering the playoffs as the 14th seed, but left nearly pulling off playoff magic by coming within points of upsetting the number 3 seeded Bedford Academy. Looking ahead to next season, Coach Anderson finds himself with the majority of his young core intact. Junior guards Sirr White (10.3ppg, 10.7rpg, 7.7apg), Roberto Ward (8.8ppg, 4.0rpg, 4.8apg), and Wayne Longmore (12.7ppg, 9.0rpg, 3.2apg, while forward Christophe Erskine-Gidding (9.4ppg, 8.4rpg) is already showing off his enormous potential. The real gem in Erasmus can be found in sophomore Cosby Napoleon. While only a sophomore, he has already garnered interest from Division I and Division II colleges. Napoleon (22ppg, 11rpg, 3apg) leads his team in scoring and comes in 19th overall in total points in the PSAL with 396 in the regular season, all done as a young sophomore. Furthermore, Napoleon has shown the ability to step up when his team needs him and when the lights shine upon him, increasing his stats to almost 30 points per game in the playoffs. As New York City gets ready for next season, this will definitely be a team to beat.   Boys and Girls High School 2019-2020 Regular season record: 11-3 Under coach Ruth Lovelace, Boys and Girls High School rose to the top of their division with an 11-3 record, and it’s safe to say that they won’t be willing to relinquish their top spot for the 2021 season. Their team lead by a team of juniors, including guards Jahi Mukoro (11.5ppg, 5.8rpg, 3.8apg) and [player_tooltip player_id="945547" first="Aubrey" last="Nicholson"] (9.0ppg, 9.0rpg, 2.0apg). Their team also features sleeper Miles Day, who shines when games matter the most, and carrying a 11ppg 10rpg playoff statline. At the center of their team is Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="945515" first="Khalil" last="Brantley"]. Brantley (34.1ppg, 9.2rpg, 4.4apg) consistently pulls his team into games and out with a win. With Brantley leading the PSAL with 34.1 points per game and coming in second citywide with 477 total regular season points in his junior year, it’s impossible to imagine the magnitude of success he will bring to both himself and his team in 2021.   Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School 2019-2020 Regular season record: 9-5 Under coach Joshua Krinsky, Washington Heights worked for a 9-5 regular season record, and took the crown in the Manhattan Borough championship. Krinsky and the Washington Heights Wolves are looking to build off of this success in the 2021 season. Returning this year is sophomore forward Edwin Daniel Linares (6ppg, 10.4rpg, 1.4apg) and junior guard Jalen Sabino (8.1ppg, 2.3rpg, 4.3apg). Also returning is [player_tooltip player_id="945530" first="Randy" last="Crosby"] (22.4ppg, 5.7rpg, 3.0apg), who led his team in scoring as a junior. With the progress of a whole season, the Washington Heights Wolves are looking to take their success farther than the borough championship.   Benjamin Banneker Academy 2019-2020 Regular season record: 18-0 The Benjamin Banneker Warriors under coach Willie Jackson went undefeated in regular season play and earned the top seed in the city playoff bracket and made their way all the way to the semifinals until the season was cut short early due to COVID-19, as well as being the runner-ups in the Brooklyn borough championship. While Benjamin Banneker performed outstanding this year in the PSAL, there is no reason to predict that they cannot replicate the same success next year. Returning next year are junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="945535" first="Gabriel" last="Holley"] (18.4ppg, 2.4rpg, 6.7apg) as well as brothers Tajuan (16.8ppg, 6.3rpg, 3.5apg) and Takai (15.4ppg, 6.5rpg, 4.4apg) Simpkins, as well as a talent class of current sophomores ready to play at the varsity level. While the Warriors may lose some talent to graduation, their core and their championship spirit will remain with the team during the 2020-2021 season.   Murry Bergtraum 2019-2020 Regular season record: 15-0 Under head coach Eddie Lau, the Murry Bergtraum Blazers put together an impeccable season and will only get better. Their year was highlighted by a second seed appearance to the city playoffs, making it to the semifinals until the season was shut down, and a semifinal appearance in the Manhattan borough tournament. However, the Blazers are in the rare case of losing virtually no talent to graduation. Junior Cameron Sweeney (8.6ppg, 22.1rpg, 1.8apg) single handedly outrebounded the whole league, leading in both rebounds per game and total rebounds with 331. Junior Kasai Fontanez (14.6ppg, 12.3rpg, 6.7apg) and sophomore Donnell Campbell (12.4ppg, 11.7rpg, 8apg) will also return, who ranked 16th and 8th respectively, in total assists citywide. Point guard Keianu Woodward (10.5ppg, 9.5rpg, 11.5apg) who nearly averaged a triple double while ranking second citywide in total assists will be back as well. As impressive as these statistics are, the two most shocking players will also return. Seck Zongo (7.0ppg, 16.2rpg, 7.3apg) may have similar numbers to his teammates, but once you consider the fact that he is only a freshman, suddenly you wonder what his statline at his full potential will be-- and what lies ahead for Zongo, who ranked 12th in total assists and 9th in total rebounds, again, as a freshman. Junior [player_tooltip player_id="945527" first="Dior" last="Davis"] will also return, this time as the unquestioned team leader. Davis (26.4ppg, 17.7rpg, 15.8apg) averaged well above a triple double on the season, while leading the city in numerous categories. Combining the talents of all these players, plus whatever surprises the Blazers have in store, they would make a tough foe for the 2021 season.